World number one dressage rider Isabell Werth wrapped up a very successful 2018 CDI Fritzens with another double victory on Sunday 1 July 2018, bringing her tally to four wins out of four at Evelyn Haim-Swarovski's Schindhof in the beautiful, Tyrolian Alps.
Werth is a regular at the Manfred and Hilde Swarovski Memorial Show and the 2018 edition proved to be sensational for her. She made her come back on the 14-year old Westfalian mare Bella Rose (by Belissimo M x Cacir AA) after a 3.5 year break due to a severe injury. The pair won the Grand Prix and topped it off with the trophy in the Grand Prix Special on Sunday, scoring 80.170%.
"I wanted to compete Bella Rose in a home atmosphere, so she wouldn't sense the enormous pressure when each step and stride gets dissected by thousands of people," said Werth frankly. "Here at the Schindlhof I could fully focus on the sport. It's an incredible feeling to compete in such conditions."
Bella Rose's come back caused a sensation for sure as the Schindlhof website got hit one million times over the weekend. The video of the come back ride was seen 80,000 times!
British Emile Faurie and Ullrich Kasselmann's Dono di Maggio (by Dimaggio x Santander H) finished second in the Special with a personal record score of 75.596%.
"I'm absolutely bursting with happiness today as Donno di Maggio did another personal best of 75.59% to come second behind Isabell Werth in the Grand Prix Special," Faurie wrote on his Facebook page. "He just keeps improving with every test.
"I'm grateful to Klaus and Evelyn, to the Swarovski family and the team at Schindlhof," said an appreciative Werth. "At this show everything is done to the T and nothing is missing."
More than 2000 spectators attended the show at Schindlhof on Sunday. "It was a very special show for me and we saw great sport," said the 48-year old Isabell. "I hope to come back next year."
Earlier on sunday morning, Austrian Stefan Lehfellner won the consolation Grand Prix aboard Sissy Max-Theurer's Oldenburg bred Fackeltanz OLD (by Florencio). The 13-year old black was eliminated from the Grand Prix after he showed some blood in his mouht. In the consolation Grand Prix they scored 67.246% for the win.
Text and Photos by Appels - No Reproduction Allowed
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Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2018 CDI Fritzens